Wiscasset Middle School’s eighth graders took their learning on the road last Wednesday and ventured out on the mudflats below the school, near Polly Clark Cove.

Carrying on Wiscasset Middle School's tradition of expeditionary learning, the eighth graders didn't just settle for learning about clams in the classroom, but dug their own. 

"I didn't realize clamming was that much fun," said Taylor Robertson, an eighth grader who had not been clamming before. "I learned what a big part clams play in filtering the water."

"It was really difficult to walk around, but it was pretty fun," agreed eighth grader Abbi Connors. "I learned that clams need to be two inches to be legally harvested, how to pick clams, and how much a bushel sold for last summer."

Students are learning about ecosystems in science and getting out on the flats helped them understand  more about the clam's habitat and picture what it means to live in mud. Prior to the trip they heard about what to expect from Denis-Marc Nault, a biologist in Maine's Department of Marine Resources Division of Shellfish Management, who visited their classroom.

WMS Administrative Assistant Cindy Collamore, who is also a commercial shellfish harvester, and P.J. Fairfield, a member of Wiscasset's Shellfish Committee, helped lead the trip to the flats. They shared their knowledge of not only science, but the job of clamming. Students gained a new appreciation of the hard work done by our local clammers and wormers and the importance of these businesses to our local economy. 

"It would be cool for a job, and it seems like you could earn good money," said eighth grader Alex Giasson.

After clamming, students were able to to clean the mud off at the sewage treatment plant and tour the facility. Plant employee David Gagnon gave tours, answered lots of questions, and helped students understand the importance of returning clean water to Wiscasset's mudflat and river ecosystem.